Wayne County
Before its establishment on November 2, 1779, Wayne County's territory was inhabited solely by Native Americans. The county was created from portions of Dobbs County and is named after Anthony Wayne, a Founding Father of the United States. Its seat is located in Goldsboro, which is its largest municipality. According to data recorded in the 2020 U.S. Census, Wayne County has a population of 117,333 people and covers a total land area of 553.92 square miles.
The county's judiciary is composed of a Superior Court and District Courts. The Superior Court is part of the Eighth Judicial District of North Carolina. In addition to serving Wayne County, the court also serves Lenoir and Greene Counties. It handles felony trials, certain misdemeanors, civil claims over $25,000, probate cases, conservatorships, and guardianships. It also has the jurisdiction to review governmental decisions. Wayne County District Court hears most misdemeanors and infractions and conducts preliminary felony hearings. It also hears civil claims below $25,000, small claims below $10,000, foreclosures, landlord-tenant disputes, and involuntary mental health commitments.
Public court records in Wayne County are official documents produced by the county's judicial system. These records encompass case filings, court orders, judgments, dockets, transcripts, and exhibits that detail legal proceedings in the county and their outcomes. Per the provisions of the North Carolina Public Records Law, public court records are accessible to any interested member of the public in Wayne County. The Office of the Wayne County Superior Court Clerk is the designated entity responsible for the management and preservation of all public court records in the county. The office is also responsible for facilitating public access to these records. Records which are made accessible to the public by this office include:
- Criminal records
- Traffic court records
- Family records
- Property records
Public court records in Wayne County can be viewed through an online search or obtained by an in-person visit to the Clerk's Office. Individuals interested in accessing these records online may use the record search portal maintained by the North Carolina Judicial Branch. Requests can also be sent via mail or made directly at the Clerk's Office, which is located at:
224 E. Walnut St
Room 230
Goldsboro, NC 27530
Phone: (919) 722-6100
Obtaining physical copies of Wayne County court records at the clerk's office costs $0.25 per page for standard copies. If the requester desires a certified copy, an additional $5.00 charge applies. Requesters may also incur additional charges for searching records. These charges can vary depending on whether staff assistance is required and the total duration of the search.
